Staff

Executive Director

Sarah Kimmey Grymes

Sarah is HAC’s Executive Director and is incredibly happy to be able to serve her native Hendersonville and its many residents. She comes from a background in banking and has been involved in assisting with multiple local non-profit organizations, including serving on HAC’s board for over 5 years. It was during this time that she became passionate about the mission at HAC and is now able to use that passion to assist the people of Henderson county with repairs, construction and finding affordable housing.

Director of finance

Stefanie Kompathoum

Stefanie moved to western North Carolina from Louisiana in the 1980s and is proud to call the area home. She and her family have lived in Hendersonville for 13 years. For her, the best part of working at Housing Assistance is working with those who have a passion for service, and finding opportunities to make change in the world, starting right here.

Construction programs coordinator

Marcesa Harper

Marcesa was born and raised in Hendersonville, NC but tried out several other cities before deciding home was in Hendersonville, where she enjoys the small town life and the mountain air with her husband Joshua and daughter Harwin. Since graduating from Gardner-Webb University in 2011 she has worked for several non-profit organizations, with every position she held having serving others in mind. After moving back to Henderson County, she saw a need for safe and affordable housing in this community, and found that Housing Assistance was a great organization addressing this need. Marcesa has been the Home Repair & Volunteer Coordinator for Housing Assistance since August of 2016 and enjoys working with the homeowners and families that we serve.

Director of development

Sean Rose

Sean has been with Housing Assistance longer than any other staff member, and has dedicated 15 years to creating and sustaining affordable housing in Henderson County. He moved to the area in 1997 from Western Michigan. Once he moved to the area, he began working on homes with his father and gained construction experience as well as built custom staircases. Sean is now a licensed General Contractor and has been involved in the construction of over 120 homes with Housing Assistance. Part of Sean’s commitment to affordable housing comes from firsthand experience, as he and his family became homeowners through Housing Assistances Self-Help program in 2001. We are incredibly fortunate Sean decided to call Western North Carolina Home and has made such a commitment to The Housing Assistance Corporation.

construction superintendent

Gary Morgan

Gary was born and raised in Henderson County, and we are lucky that he stuck around. He has dedicated 13 years to working for HAC and is our loyal construction superintendent. He oversees our self-help and new homes programs. Gary went to high school at West Henderson and then went to Blue Ridge Community College and obtained a carpentry degree. He started working construction around 1998 and has loved it ever since. He cares about the people we work with and making sure that everyone has a chance to live in a decent environment. Gary enjoys being a part of this community and working alongside his co-workers that he considers a part of his family.

Charlie Huggins

Construction Manager

Charlie has been with HAC since summer of 2017 and is already passionate about the mission of our organization. He has the dream of everyone to one day own their own home-no matter their background or financial situation. As a construction crew member, Charlie oversees the homeowner’s participation in the Self-Help program, helps conduct home repairs, and helps complete construction on our New Homes. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has a extensive background in working with HVAC and construction. Charlie loves seeing affordable homes build from the ground up, and of course, the beautiful mountains of NC.

Construction Manager

Alvaro Bartolon

Al has been working with HAC since the spring of 2017. His desire to serve people in the community has helped individuals and families end up with affordable and beautiful homes. Al previously worked for 12 years as a machinist and got a degree from Blue Ridge Community College in blue print reading and machine operating (with a 4.0 GPA!). He works with our self-help, new homes and home repair programs. Al has contributed a great deal with his bilingual abilities to help us work with a more diverse group of clients. He enjoys Western North Carolina because of the scenery and being able to enjoy all 4 seasons.

Heather Boyd

Housing Counselor

Heather is our certified housing counselor for Housing Assistance. She has been with HAC since May of 2017 and works with families to help prepare them for homeownership, assist them with their applications and support them on their path to becoming homeowners. She has over 10 years of experience in banking, finance and consumer lending, is a certified USDA 502 direct loan packager and NCHFA member assisting with down payment assistance. She has associates degrees in both Business Administration, Marketing and Retailing as well as in Art. Heather is also currently in school working to get her bachelor's degree in Communications through ECU. In 2006 she started working towards her own goal of homeownership through a self-sufficiency program and by 2009 she was able to purchase her first home for herself and her three daughters. Heather personally understands the amount of work and dedication it takes to make someone's dreams a reality.

Ashlynn Landreth

Office Manager

Ashlynn started with HAC in the fall of 2017 and is already a welcome face in the office. Ashlynn helps out with assisting both the finance director and executive director with daily tasks as well as other administrative responsibilities. She is from Henderson County originally, and is a graduate from WCU with a degree in Political Science who is currently in the Master’s program for Public Administration. She has experience in a variety of areas as she was an intern for the Henderson County Planning Department and the ambassador for the Andrew Goodman Foundation. Ashlynn believes that housing can lead to an overall better life because it provides security and can be a starting point for everything else to come. She enjoys WNC for the small town feel but also for the closeness and compassion from community members.

Emalee Richman

Special Event and Volunteer Coordinator

Emalee was born and raised in Hendersonville and just recently moved back to the area after exploring the North. Emalee has experience in working at a domestic violence shelter and at a low barrier winter warming shelter. She graduated from Western Carolina University in spring of 2016 with a degree in Sociology and minor in Psychology. Emalee coordinates volunteers, marketing, special events, grants and donations. Emalee views housing as a central hub for all things wonderful in our lives, and that everyone should have access to the happiness and pride that a home brings. She enjoys the friendly culture of western NC and is thankful to call this area home.